Thin Air Press Kit 26x28”

Product Description:

The Thin Air Press Kit 26x28” is an inexpensive introduction to vacuum laminating. This size bag is designed for woodworkers projects, such as table tops, clocks, boxes, game pieces, marquetry, picture frames, golf disks, etc.
The kit can be re-used many times, and other sizes are available to suit your project. Easy to use, no power required. This is how you “Bend it with Thin Air”!

The Thin Air Press Kit 26x28” contains:

a 26x28” vinyl vacuum bag with a one-way valve positioned in the center and seal attached

a low-volume high-pressure manual vacuum hand pump

breather netting

extra sealing tape

illustrated instructions and maintenance sheet

Insert your glued veneers (and mold) into the heavy-duty vinyl vacuum bag, position the breather netting under the valve, seal the bag, connect the manual pump and in less than a minute, extract the air out. Watch as it generates enough pressure to press 1/16” veneer (or thinner) over a mold. Or laminate a fancy veneer to a flat surface. It can also be used without an internal mold or platen, see these tutorials.

Before you glue up your veneers, a dry run is highly recommended! We can’t replace priceless sheets of veneer in case of a mishap!

Q: Is this reusable, and for how many times?A: The kits are designed to be used many many times. With a little care and maintenance, the TAP Kits will last for years.

Q: Will the glue stick to the bag?A: PVA glue and epoxy will not stick to the bag. Any dried glue can be loosened with fingers and either shaken or blown out with a shop vac.

Q: How many boards can I press at once?A: One board at a time. You are limited by how fast your glue dries. Once you start spreading water-based glue on the veneer sheets, you have about 7 minutes to get them pressed before the glue dries. Dry glue will not bond together.

Q: If the TAP Bag gets a hole in it, can I fix it? A: Clear 2” packing tape seals up any suspected punctures. Use a length of the butyl tape to fix any side seam gaps or splits.

Q: Do the valves leak?A: While many people assume air is leaking back through the valve, they are made of cast rubber and almost never leak. The most common problem with slow leakage is the open-end seal tape. If the seal is not properly closed up (check both sides) you will lose vacuum. If the top cap of the valve is not compromised with dust and debris, the valve will not leak.

Q: Do you refund my veneer if I screw up the pressing?A: Nope

Q; What’s a “Dry Run” and why should I do that?A: It means to press your project in the TAP bag, without putting any glue on the veneer sheets. Stack the dry sheets of veneer over the mold, seal them into the press with the breather netting in place, and pump the air out. Check for 10 minutes to make sure the TAP bag is not leaking. This will help you become familiar with the process before you commit glue to your veneer sheets.